Ruby Gemstone Colors

Ruby history and lore.

Ruby gemstone colors.

We need to break down the color of rubies into three parts the hue the tone and the saturation. Okay so we know rubies are red but which red is best. The color comes from traces of chromium. The color of a ruby is due to the element chromium.

Most gemological authorities expect a medium to medium dark red color tone in a ruby. The word ruby comes from ruber latin for red. Sapphire the other gem variety of corundum encompasses all colors of corundum. Trace elements that become part of the mineral s crystal structure cause variations in its color.

Too little color and the ruby can appear to be flat glassy and not like the red color you expect. Ruby is gem quality red corundum. Fine color large and eye clean lacking visible inclusions rubies like this 11 01carat ct stone from myanmar formerly known as burma are extremely rare and valuable. The tone is the amount of color in a ruby.

The redder the better. The hue specifies how red the gemstone is are there any hints of yellow blue or brown for example. Chromium is the trace element that causes ruby s red color. This makes ruby one of the most important gems in the colored stone market.

When determining the quality of ruby based on its color the hue saturation and tone must always be taken into account. Natural b this category accounts for over 50 of natural gemstones. A ruby is what most often comes to mind when one thinks of a red gemstone. Like other colored gemstones they also look great in halo settings which emphasize the rich color of the ruby center stone.

Too much color and the ruby can appear dark opaque and lifeless. Jan goodman co ruby can command the highest prices of any colored gemstone. To begin with a ruby is essentially a red sapphire a gemstone of the corundum mineral variety. In its purest form the mineral corundum is colorless.

All other color varieties of gem quality corundum are referred to as sapphire. Gems of perfect saturation are rare and therefore more expensive. A ruby is a pink to blood red coloured gemstone a variety of the mineral corundum aluminium oxide other varieties of gem quality corundum are called sapphires ruby is one of the traditional cardinal gems together with amethyst sapphire emerald and diamond. Medium tone is the most desirable for a ruby as it is the best balance.

For example this 1 04 carat ruby engagement ring has an impressive halo setting that attracts attention to the beautiful center stone all while giving the ring an elegant classic appearance. Beside for its bright color it is a most desirable gem due to its hardness durability luster and rarity transparent rubies of large sizes are even rarer than diamonds. The name ruby is derived from the latin word ruber which means red. Though there are many other gemstones that display a red color including red diamonds there are properties that are exclusive to rubies.

Stones lighter than this are called pink sapphire.